Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-22
A FOr.cr.
Harry F. Cook, twenty years old, the discount
clerk of the Columbia National Bank of Washing


Harry F. Cook, twenty years old, the discount
clerk of the Columbia National Bank of Washing
ton was arrested last night on complaint of A. L.
Britton the president of that bank, charged with
forging checks to the amount of 50 O24. The
investigation which led to tho arrest was brought
about by the fact that certain checks bearing the
supposed signature of John K. Mclean were pre-
| sented for payment by COrson & McCai they IN
whose bank they had been placed on deposit.
The checks passed the scrutiny of the cashiers OF
both banks and were not suspected until Mr.. Nc
Leans account was ovcrdrawn. Then tho bank
officials notified the gentleman to that effect. To
their surprise they learned that he had not drawn
on the bank at all, and he declared that if any
cheeks bearing his name had been presented they
were forgeries. This reply, of course, nccessi-
tated the production of the checks but when they
| were called for they could not be found. The
books bore the entries of the number and amount
of the checks but the checks themselves were no.
where to he found. Mr.. Britton tho president, AT
once began thorough investigation. Among the
employees OF the bank no one showed so much in
terest or was so energetic in assisting Mr. BrttOn
in the investigation as young Cook. Mr.. Britton,
| however followed up ore clue after another until
| he was not only satisfied that Cook was the Gull
| prit, bnt soon found actual proof against him.
Then he called in detectives to assist him in the
| investigation, which WAS ended yesterday by
! Cooks arrest. In examining into the matter Mr..
Britton found that Cook had executed his forge
RIGS with degree of daring and GOODNESS thatwas
surprising in one of his age. Being familiar with
the signatures Of large number depOstors III the
Columbia National Bank, he had selected Mr.. Me-
Lean, who had left tho city for the summer.
Then, Disgusting himself, he went to Corson &
4 Mccartney and opened an accountundcr the name
. of Brown & Morris. by some unexplained over
: sight this bank allowed Cook to open an account
without question. Then Cook began his forgeries.
{ The checks were sent to COrson & Mccartney S
and placed on deposit to his credit, and the bank
/ in turn sent them to the Columbia National Bank
| for collection. The signatures appeared correct
in all respects, and were paid. In this manner
they came into Cooks hands as y clerk in the
| bank and he destroyed them rs fast as they were
placed ON file aud then 'lrow the money by check
from his own bank. In depositing the checks
| and III drawing the money, however. Cook never
appeared in person. but used for this purpose, his
younger brother. boy about fifteen years of age,
and one OF the pupils of the public schools The
Younger brother has also been arrested, but 1t is
believed that he will only be held rs q witness
/ Harry Cook, is the son of William Cook, the in
vcntOr of patent medicine, known rs the Balm
| of Life. His step-fsther is DR.. SonnenSchmldt,
so that the young man is not only well.known,
| but was generally held in high esteem by large
circle of friends. When Mr.. Britton, discovered
| that Cook was the forger he told him that If he
would return the money even then he might be
allowed to escape, but Cook, with wonderful de-
gree of audacity, Indignantly denied any knowl-
edge of the affair, and boldly accused several
other people of the crime.
Seeing that nothing could DO done with him
Mr. Britton turned him over TO an officer and he
was taken to the station house. He talked as
cheerfully as could be about his arrest and said
that he was satisfied it would come out all right,
but that his lawyer had advised him not to talk.
7 he younger brother, however, was not so bold
and readily confessed the part he had taken i'll
the affair.